托福口语 Task 4

Today, we're going to talk about a fascinating concept in animal behavior: 'tool use' – the ability of animals to use objects from their environment to achieve a goal. This was once thought to be unique to humans, but we now know it occurs across many species. What's interesting is that tool use isn't just a random act; it often shows problem-solving and learning. Let me give you two examples. First, consider the sea otter. Sea otters float on their backs and use rocks to crack open hard-shelled shellfish like clams. They place the rock on their chest and smash the clam against it. This is a learned behavior passed from mother to pup. Second, think about the New Caledonian crow. These crows create hooks from twigs or leaves to extract insects from tree crevices. They even modify the material to make it more effective, showing remarkable innovation. These examples demonstrate that tool use evolves as an adaptive response to food availability and environmental challenges.